Preliminary figures released by Lee County Property Appraiser on June 1 showed that properties in Lehigh Acres will likely decline 21.8 percent. Compared to other areas of the county, Lehigh is near the bottom of the list of property evaluations.

According to Wilkinson, county-wide figures show that Lee County property values dropped 15.3. These numbers are estimated and must be reported to Tallahassee this month.

Overall, 2010 evaluation of properties decreased more than 26 percent.

Property values in Cape Coral fell 16.28 percent. Fort Myers evaluations dipped to 17.78 percent; Bonita Springs property values fell 15.47 percent, Fort Myers Beach fell 12.68 percent and Sanibel saw a much smaller evaluation decrease of 7.43, according to Wilkinson’s office.

Interestingly enough, Wilkinson noted that it was a surprise to see that Cape Coral’s property evaluations fell 16.28 percent with Fort Myers seeing a 17.78 percent loss.

The 2011 numbers are not as dramatic as 2010 figures when evaluation of property decreased more than 25 percent.

The tax figures must be in Tallahassee by July 1 and the numbers could change a little by going up or down, but any changes are usually minimal.

Wilkinson noted that individual notices will be sent out to homeowners all over the county in August and homeowners can appeal their estimated values up to 25 days.

According to a press release from Wilkinson’s office, he said the overall loss of value across the county was unprecedented. He noted that he had never seen anything like this before and he’s been in Lee County for 30 years.

What it means for Lehigh Acres is yet to be seen. The county will take less taxes from yet more undervalued homes in Lehigh as it is an unincorporated area of the county. More homes may drop below the water and more foreclosures could be seen. Lehigh has the highest jobless rate in Lee County with some estimates as high as 20 percent or more.

What the consequences will be upon the Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District is not yet known. Its operating expenses come from ad valorem taxes. The fire department did get a shot in the arm a few days ago when Fire Chief Don Adams announced that the SAFER grant will put close to $9 million in the fire department’s coffers.

Under the agreement in the SAFER grant, the chief may rehire 34 firefighters who lost their jobs in an August 2009 layoff and a dozen administrative staffers who have been told they will lose their jobs will now be kept on.

However, the Safer grant only lasts for two years. At that time, if the economy has not turned around, layoffs could occur again. To keep the firefighters that are hired back on the payroll, there must be either another grant or much higher ad valorem taxes and possibly an assessment fee. And to date only one commissioner, Ralph Hemingway, has suggested such an assessment be added to the income above the millage rate, but others on the board are cool with such a proposal and have voted no during meeting. Hemingway will not run for reelection.

However, Adams and the board of commissioners must decide where the rest of the money is coming from to operate the department if the income from land sales doesn’t match monies that are needed. Other income for the fire department come in fees from ambulance service; however much of that can not be collected.

This past year, commissioners raised the millage rate to 3 mills with the chief’s advice. But 3 mills is the limit unless the fire board asks the Legislature to allow to increase the millage rate.

The fire board has been warned by some in the community who have said property evaluations would drop again and drastically in Lehigh.